Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescaora’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescaora’, characterized by its cascading and uniform growth habit; freely branching habit; medium-sized flowers; and numerous orange-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Calibrachoa sp. cultivarWescaora.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Wescaora’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany. The new Calibrachoaoriginated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 97-254d,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 97-013-5, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor in 1998 in a controlledenvironment in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany as a single plant within theresulting progeny from the cross-pollination.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atSudlohn-Oeding, Germany since 1999, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Wescaora have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wescaora’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Wescaora’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Cascading and uniform growth habit.

2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy.

3. Medium-sized flowers.

4. Numerous orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescaora can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSudlohn-Oeding, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had more open flowers than plants ofthe female parent selection.

2. Flower color of plants of the new Calibrachoa was more stable thanflower color of plants of the female parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selectiondiffered in flower color as plants of the female parent selection hadlighter orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescaora can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSudlohn-Oeding, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had thicker stems than plants of themale parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller leaves than plants of themale parent selection.

3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selectiondiffered in flower color as plants of the female parent selection hadorange red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa cultivar Wescasun, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,756.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany, plantsof the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Wescasun inthe following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants of thecultivar Wescasun.

2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants of thecultivar Wescasun.

3. Flowers of plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Wescasundiffered in coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Wescaora’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersand leaves of ‘Wescaora’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and for the followingdescription were grown under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the spring and summer in aglass-covered greenhouse in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany. Plants were about20 weeks from planting rooted cuttings and grown in containers. Duringthe production of the plants, the day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25°C., night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C., and light levels rangedfrom 3,000 to 50,000 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Wescaora.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as97-254d, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as97-013-5, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 20 days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual flowering plant; cascading; uniform, rounded appearance,plants eventually become spherical in overall shape. Freely branchingwith lateral branches forming at every node. Vigorous growth habit.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patiocontainers.

Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About 15 cm.

Plant length (from soil level to lateral branches apices).—About 43 cm.

Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 60 cm.

Stem description.—Main branches, length: About 40 cm. Main branches,diameter: About 2 mm. Lateral branches, length: About 12 to 18 cm.Lateral branches, diameter: About 1.2 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 to1.7 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Strength: Strong, wiry. Color: 146C.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and longpersisting; sessile. Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 3.1 to 4.2cm. Width: About 1.4 to 1.7 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse to slightlyacute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture,upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation: Pinnate; only midveinvisible. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developingfoliage, lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:147A; midvein, 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B;midvein, 147C.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Medium-sized flowers; flowers face upright oroutward; single, axillary. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering withflowers forming at every axil.

Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn; floweringcontinuous.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.6 cm. Depth (height): About 1.9 cm. Tubelength: About 1.7 to 1.8 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 8 mm.Tube diameter, proximal end: About 2.1 mm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Shape:Oblong. Color: 14D overlain with 70B.

Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five petals, fused intoflared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 1.2 cm. Petal width:About 1.3 cm. Petal shape: Obtuse with rounded apex. Petal margin:Entire. Petal texture: Smooth, satiny. Color: Petal, upper surface, whenopening and fully opened: 15A; overlain with 51A to 51B; venation,similar to lamina; color becoming closer to 164C overlain with 183A withdevelopment. Petal, lower surface, when opening and fully opened: 19Boverlain with 48B; venation, 166A overlain with 48B. Flower throat(inside): 17A to 17B; venation, 166A to 166C. Flower tube (outside):14C; venation, 166A to 166C.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,star-shaped. Length: About 1.45 cm. Width: About 2.9 mm. Shape:Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Strength: Flexible,wiry. Color: 146C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five. Anther shape:Four-parted, oval. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther diameter: About1.2 mm. Anther color: 12B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 15D.Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Stigmashape: Oval. Stigma color: 144B to 144A. Style length: About 1 mm. Stylecolor: 144C. Ovary color: 144B to 144C.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not beennoted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observedto be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 4 to 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named‘Wescaora’, as illustrated and described.